![[Shelbyville Times-Gazette]](http://www.t-g.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (16)
 From left, Deputy Benjamin Burris, Gina Hopper and Joy Cleek place an oxygen mask on Buddy, a cat removed from a burning home by Shelbyville firefighters. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
![[Order this photo]](http://t-g.mycapture.com/mycapture/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return%20to%20site&backurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-g.com%2Fstory%2F1443643.html&thumbpath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-g.com%2Fphotos%2F11%2F58%2F94%2F1158943-S.jpg&previewpath=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-g.com%2Fphotos%2F11%2F58%2F94%2F1158943-L.jpg&pricingsheetid=1482){kind=link}
"Both of the cats are fine," Assistant Chief Brian Nicholson of the Shelbyville Fire Department said this morning.
After ensuring all humans were out of the Drew and Gina Hopper home, Lewis Avenue, Shelbyville firefighters found Buddy, one of two cats Nicholson said were owned by the family.
Buddy appeared to be gasping for breath as he was placed in the arms of Gina Hopper.
A small oxygen mask was quickly placed over Buddy's face by a Bedford County Emergency Medical Service paramedic. Buddy briefly struggled to break loose from the mask while being held by Hopper and family friend Joy Cleek.
The cat, with mask intact, was rushed by Deputy Benjamin Burris of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department to a Shelbyville veterinarian.
Friendly, the other cat, was found some time later by fire personnel and also taken to a veterinarian, Nicholson said.
"It was an electrical fire which started in the kitchen," Nicholson said. "Fire damage was contained to the kitchen and smoke and heat damage occurred throughout the home."
The smoke and heat took a toll on several Shelbyville firefighters -- including Nicholson -- who were checked by BCEMS personnel after emerging from the home.
None required medical treatment and all resumed work moments later.
firefighter1....
THANK YOU for your comments. I'm the daughter of a firefighter and am VERY proud of my dad and all that he and his department do for Bedford County. The men and women who are in public service (firefighting, law enforcement, etc) DO NOT get the recognition they all deserve. They do an outstanding job and I'll close with KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! :-)
We only live in a negitive society when negitive statements are brought forward. It is really sad that people feed on negitivity and want and feel the need to find the bad or shall I say create the bad in everything.
I must say that the firefighter that was referred to as being on taxpayers dollars while being own oxygen....good grief. The man gave many many years to that fire department and stayed as long as he could. SOMEBODY has to answer the phones when YOU call because YOUR house is on fire. I am glad he was.
The older I get the more I realize that YOU NEVER know the real truth unless you are there living it day in and day out. So for all you readers out there...don't believe all that you hear...just know that we have great men and women in our city protecting our homes everyday. That is what is important.
As far as bad things going on at the fire department, well...welcome to the real world...things happen everywhere, but when the alarm goes off ...you better belive the JOB will be done. That is what is important.
I think it is a great disrespect for what our firefighters do everyday by stressing over silly things like taxpayers money or who is kissing who's butt. I lose my husband for 24 hours every third day to protect our city and please don't tell me that we have people out there who feel the need to worry over silly things.
I must thank all of our firefighters for what they do. I could care less about the small things....just the most important ones. Thank you for your sacrafice.
(forgive my spelling...I am used to Microsoft word) :)
Sincerely,
Dedicated Firefighter's Wife
It is the truth, the public never hears of the negative things that goes on. They try to keep those things covered up from the public eye. It is nothing personal that has happened to my husband or myself I just thought the public should be aware of what actually goes on with their tax dollars. Living in today's society is hard enough on anyone no matter who you are, but not knowing where or how your tax dollars are being spent is a sad situation, especially if they are going towards something that they shouldn't be. If more people in the public would step up and voice their thoughts and opinions, maybe something could get changed and Bedford Co. would be a better place. I know that it is not healthy to live in a negative society, but sometimes it is a good thing to know a few of the negative aspects that never get brought out into the public eye, especially with jobs that are funded by the citizens and their tax dollars. Hopefully more people will open their eyes and try to make a change for our society and try to make a better city and county for ourselves and our children we sure could use something good for all of us.
Concernedforfuture:
I have to agree with what you're saying but is that the truth? What else goes on down there, I thought we had a great fire dept( never hear of any negatives)so is this just a sour taste in your mouth over something that happened to your husband personally or is there bigger problems for us taxpayers? Please enlighten us!
Just for the record there are things that goes on at the local fire department that never gets out to the public, but being a wife of a local fireman, I hear & see most of all that goes on. When you have a firefighter on oxygen carrying around an oxygen tank with them on taxpayers time do you find that fair and courageous to the public if their house or business were to catch fire? I think this fire fighter finally retired now whether this fire fighter chose to retire on their own or be forced into retirement I am not sure, but your tax dollars funded his salery for a long time while they were carrying around an oxygen tank at the local fire department. There are more firefighters on the payroll here in town, maybe sometimes they should get recognition for the hard work they do while fighting fires, because they sure don't make enough for the danger that their lives are in each time they fight a blazing fire.
thanks so much for the hard work the fire department does. Thanks for saving those cats!
It is awesome to see someone who cares about the small things also. I know those cats are happy! God is too! :)
Dear readers,
First I would like to say that I do not care for this type of forum you have chosen, but I wish to respond and so I will.
I too am a city of Shelbyville firefigher's wife. My husband puts in many long hours. He comes home from fires sweaty, tired, and smelling of smoke like all the firefighers. He puts his life on the line to resuce people and animals and save property, just like all firefighters. He has spent many days in classes educating himself. Part of his job duties include educating the public. He tries to educate this community about the dangers of fire. He teaches the community's thousands of children every year about fire safety. He educates the elderly in this community on fire safety, and installs many smoke detectors for the elderly. He inspects businesses in this city trying to insure that everyone in this community is safe from fire. Therefore, my husband is in the eye of the public daily. He does not seek recognition for himself.
I myself am a teacher and have been so for many years. Back in the early 90's there was a former student of mine (whom I cared for very much), die in a house fire. If my husband has saved just one life from a fire then hallaluia!!!If you have sour grapes because you don't like his picture in the paper, then sorry, it is part of his job!Being a public educator places him in the public's eye. I would encourage you to be educated on a subject before you personally attack someone unnecessarily. Maybe you have mistaken "kissing tail" with being passionate and dedicated and hard working. These are characteristics we all need. Is my husband passionate about the safety of the citizens of Shelbyville? Yes. Is he dedicated? Yes. Is he a hard worker? Yes, just follow him throughout his daily duties to see for yourself. "Kissing tail" usually means that the person doing the kissing is trying to impress the boss under false pretencies. YOU obviously do not know my husband! Why don't you try coming forward and sitting down with him and talking to him one on one?
As you have certainly guessed, my husband is Assistant Chief Brian Nicholson and I know the hard work he does, and I am proud of him, but more than that, I am proud of the hard work the fire department does in keeping this city safe. He is just one part of the many.
Dear readers,
First I would like to say that I do not care for this type of forum you have chosen, but I wish to respond and so I will.
I too am a city of Shelbyville firefigher's wife. My husband puts in many long hours. He comes home from fires sweaty, tired, and smelling of smoke like all the firefighers. He puts his life on the line to resuce people and animals and save property, just like all firefighters. He has spent many days in classes educating himself. Part of his job duties include educating the public. He tries to educate this community about the dangers of fire. He teaches the community's thousands of children every year about fire safety. He educates the elderly in this community on fire safety, and installs many smoke detectors for the elderly. He inspects businesses in this city trying to insure that everyone in this community is safe from fire. Therefore, my husband is in the eye of the public daily. He does not seek recognition for himself.
I myself am a teacher and have been so for many years. Back in the early 90's there was a former student of mine (whom I cared for very much), die in a house fire. If my husband has saved just one life from a fire then hallaluia!!!If you have sour grapes because you don't like his picture in the paper, then sorry, it is part of his job!Being a public educator places him in the public's eye. I would encourage you to be educated on a subject before you personally attack someone unnecessarily. Maybe you have mistaken "kissing tail" with being passionate and dedicated and hard working. These are characteristics we all need. Is my husband passionate about the safety of the citizens of Shelbyville? Yes. Is he dedicated? Yes. Is he a hard worker? Yes, just follow him throughout his daily duties to see for yourself. "Kissing tail" usually means that the person doing the kissing is trying to impress the boss under false pretencies. YOU obviously do not know my husband! Why don't you try coming forward and sitting down with him and talking to him one on one?
As you have certainly guessed, my husband is Assistant Chief Brian Nicholson and I know the hard work he does, and I am proud of him, but more than that, I am proud of the hard work the fire department does in keeping this city safe. He is just one part of the many.
To ConcernedforFuture:
Every work place has it's negatives but i'm sure it's not that bad!They do a great job, all I was saying was that their Assistant Chief has had his name plastered all over the paper the past few days.I think that they have a wonderful job and should be proud of it.
I would just like to say who really cares about Brian Nicholson that just goes to show how far brown nosing will get you in a position that is filled on politics and who you know. I am married to a firefighter and let me tell you the benefits are not great. They get more taken away from them than they actually receive. The shift employees for the city are treated awful. It is like the left had has no idea what the right hand is doing, and if you do not kiss butt then expect to get nothing. If the general public only knew half of what goes on at our city fire department they would be amazed and disgusted all at the same time.
I'm not sure who the real Chief is but he better watch out, his Assistant Chief has stole the spotlight the past few days in the paper! I looked back and he was promoted July 1 and he has been in the paper 9 times and the only reason it's not 11 is because it's not printed on Saturday.
I will have to say that Dep. Burris is a true hero. I bet he is taking alot of heat from his fellow officers but he conducts his job in a professional manner and with honor. Great job Benji. meow meow meow
i agree thanks for caring about our pets....my pets, 3 dogs, a cat, a bird and 2 fish mean very much to me and i would be devastated if something happened to any of them.....great work guys!!!!!
Thanks for caring about our furry friends.
Yes I agree, But I will say cudos to Ben Burris!
Have we heard enough about Assistant Chief Brian Nicholson or is there MORE? PLEASE!!!